Lady Bucks pick up huge 2A win over MPC East Leader Northwest 17-0
By Bees O’Brien
SHICKSHINNY, PA- The Northwest Lady Rangers softball team entered the week undefeated in conference play.
The Mid Penn East Division leaders quickly found out what the top of the MPC West is all about. On Monday, Muncy rocked Northwest 21-3 and on Thursday they got a dose of the one of the district’s most prolific offenses in the Bucktail Lady Bucks.
Bucktail pounded out 18 hits, Emma Poorman and Mak Wagner rocketed two home runs and Alexis Lowery would go 4 for 4 as the visiting Lady Bucks would pick up the 17-0 road victory.
Northwest entered the contest at 9-3 and Bucktail desperately needed to pad their district power points against a 2A opponent. The Lady Rangers were looking to qualify for the 2A playoffs with the victory.
Bucktail jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning, but the Lady Rangers would hold their ground against a team averaging over 14 runs a game this season. Northwest held Bucktail scoreless in the top of the second and top of the third.
Senior pitcher Emma Poorman was once again unstoppable in the circle. She followed her perfect game at Sugar Valley on Tuesday with a 5-inning, 7 strike out effort. Northwest would manage just one hit on Poorman and just three base-runners total.
Bucktail eventually opened things up in the top of the fourth with a 6 run inning, led by a shot over the fence to right field from Poorman.
It would be the top of the sixth inning that the Lady Bucks would show their offensive might. Led by a home run from Wagner and 10 runs in the inning Bucktail was firmly in command.
Wagner would close down the 6-inning, 17-0 victory in the circle by retiring Northwest in order and striking out two batters.
Hits were plenty for Bucktail. Lowery continued to have a good streak at the plate, the right fielder 4 for 4 on the day with 2 RBI’s and a pair of runs scored. Wagner had a monster day: 4 for 5 with a home run, a double and 6 runs knocked in. Poorman helped her cause on the circle by going 3 for 4 with 3 RBI’s. Jordan Burrows would collect a trio of hits, including a triple and a double. Haley Burrows added a pair of hits, including a double and 3 stolen bases. Lily Francis and Kayla Probert each collected hits too, part of the 18 total hits in the game for Bucktail.
The Lady Bucks were originally scheduled for a Senior Day match-up with Oswayo Valley Friday afternoon, but the forecast doesn’t look like that game will happen.
Bucktail has a huge week next week that begins with a Monday trip to Millville, who is fighting for their playoff lives at 5-7 overall and Tuesday will see Bucktail traveling to St. John Neumann (3-8). The big games come Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday it’s a rematch with Montgomery (10-2) in Farwell. On Thursday it’s a double header of sorts against Muncy. The Lady Bucks and Lady Indians will finish their contest from earlier this season, with the score 1-1 heading into the top of the 10th inning. Following the conclusion of this game, the two will then meet in their regularly scheduled game. This game will be in Farwell too.
The Lady Bucks will need that high powered offense Wednesday and Thursday to kick into high gear. Bucktail’s 174 runs scored leads all of District 4 in all 6 classifications. The closest team to their total in 1A is newly qualified playoff contenders Canton at 160 runs, but it took the Lady Warriors 15 games to accumulate those runs compared to 12 games for the Lady Bucks. Both Muncy and Montgomery had limited Bucktail to just 1 run each in their previous contests.
